Originally posted by Masonic Light
reply to post by rikriley
I agree. I think if Paul runs as an independent, he will do similar damage to the Republicans that Nader did to the Democrats the last 2 elections.
The whole Ron Paul thing sort of bothers me, especially that so much of his support comes from young voters. Before he died, Dr. Timothy Leary wrote a
very good essay which bemoaned the fact that young people in the USA are becoming more and more conservative. This changes the dynamics because, since
the 1960's, young voters have been sympathetic to the Left, and *in* the 1960's, were radical leftists and revolutionaries.
Ron Paul's Libertarianism has introduced far rightwing concepts that many young people are supporting. As a leftist and as an old hippie, I share
Leary's concerns over this.
This is,in fact, very true, the next generation, my generation, is by far more conservative then the past few generations. In fact I would go as far
as to say that this generation has been or will be the most conservative generation since BEFORE the 1950's! ...
And here is what I find very dangerous about this.
There is a beliefe, I found it and firmly believe in it from several books and essays I have read. The belief is simply that before great turmoils,
wars, death and revolutions the generation that partakes in it will move from the far right to the far left, or the far left to the far right. A
complete reversal of the current norms by which society holds. If our current leading generation was far left hippy revolutionaries, and the
generations inbetween the 1950's-80's where complacent left leaning people (which they where .. even the Republican party is liberal in my eyes) ..
this generation, seeing a huge turn to conservatism and even reversal of leftist policies, should be conservative militant revolutionairies.
The entire thought process of society would slowly be changing.. people of my generation, born through the 80's and into the 90's, are seeing the
deep flaws in society, in government, in our political system and .. in the last generation.
But this is not evidence that Republicans have the best propaganda either, imo, because the population that despises BOTH parties is growing.
Libertarianism is growing, not enough to take the election.. but with growing economic woes to worry about, at the brink of recession, .. who do we
blame? .. We blame our hippy fathers who led us down a path of increased socialistic ideas that have no place within this government, the pandering
not only to poor individuals who give nothing to society, but megga corporations alike .. Do not forget, todays Republicans where yesturdays hippies..
the ideas are still there, the socialistic nature is still there.. I would advise people to ask their parents about their 20's and what they did.. my
bet is many where at the demonstrations, many supported the leftist ideas, smoked the pot, went to woodstock, served in Nam, and may very well now
consider themselves loyal Conservatives.
But what do they conserve? .. Aside from big business? .. They surely don't give a damn about conserving our national boundries do they? No. They
don't give a damn about our economy either, do they? .. Outsourcing, inflation, "war on terror" .. These are not conservative ideas. These are not
Libertarian ideas, which is why the Republicans despise Ron Paul, hes not a Conservative.
But my generation, this up coming generation, is seeing the largest rising of Libertarians, and Ron Paul will sit on the Libertarian ticket. Think of
the millions of dollars he has, that he is not wasteing in the primaries? .. When hes running for President on a 3rd party, he will have more money
then any other candidate.
Society is flawed, the government is flawed, our financial institutions are flawed, our places of learnign are flawed, the socialistic nature of the
over sized government is flawed, and the rapeing of states rights by the beast that is the Federal Government is one giant flaw.
I hope people of your age understand where I am coming from ML .. You will get a social security check. Most baby boomers will.
I will not.
Neither will any one else born in the 80's.
Government hands stole the funds, did not add enough adequetly, or give it away to degenerates and non-nationals.
In my opinion, the rising TRUE conservatism, libertarianism, is a signal to the ending of an age, and the begining of another.. and the terrible
events that may follow with it.. I can only hope at the very least, we can dismantle and destroy all the horrific damage inflicted upon the Republic
by misquided liberalism through the past 100 years.. however the Republic may well be dead and gone.
If my post seems a bit scattered I had to write it in intervals while at work. I also blame my bad spelling on that as well.
But hopefully you
get where I am coming from....
